Here's what cheezed me off today

Macatacmv, if you post your path report the ladies here will be able to help you interpret it. It's a whole new language! If you post it as a new thread you'll get answers. Don't worry - the answers will be "this is what it says" not "this is what you should do" since we all know you should do what's best for you.

Best of luck.

Leah

I've been encouraged by many posts on this discussion thread, and disheartened by those who mentioned unsupportive husbands, daughters, sons, family and friends...which has resulted in me feeling very fortuante to be so supported in love by my husband and daughter, family & friends. 

My best friend who figuratively "fell over" when I said no thanks to radiation 15 years ago following DCIS/lumpectomy now tells me she did not understand my decision then; however, understands now and will honor my choices now (no adjunctive thereapy other than massage and yoga).  Wow!  I feel very fortunate.

Understand that what other people say and do "says" much more about them than it does about you.  My arms are around everyone with a hug, CMG

macatacmv, did you ever get an explanation on your path report?  You are more then welcome to PM me and I will try to help you out.  There is also a great website that will explain everything in detail about staging, etc.  My guess is that by now you should also have information on your HER2 status.

http://www.nccn.com/files/cancer-guidelines/breast/index.html#/1

Let us know how you're doing.

rohanna----haven't been on in awhile-------your question about being well hydrated before a blood draw is on mark. YES. The worst attempt on getting a blood draw or start an IV is when the patient is dehydrated.  Water away, go to the trough, if it's allowed LOL. sheila

Just read about the digging for a vein and the Male nurse saying out loud "please jesus' RO---I never said it out loud, but I always said a prayer before a Phlebotomy stick or IV stick. It's an art and a skill. No two veins are alike. We each learn our own techniques that make us successful. He prayed out loud---should pray silently. Out loud is scary.

A nurse or phelbotomist can do hundreds or thousands of sticks. The one they miss the patient thinks their incompetent.  May have done a 99 before you and then miss you. We feel like shit. Being a nurse isn't easy, we constantly have to do things. that hurt people.  I remember one poor woman who had 3 Er nurses try to put in a bladder cath and when she got to the floor that was the first thing b/c she was starting to feel lots of pressure. I showed a new grad my technique. The woman's comment was "you need to go teach them in ER". Well who knows with each it may have been the first time they missed.  The opening to the bladder looks like an apersand ^  about twice as wide. Hit that without good visualisation and light. Just saying Things aren't easy.

 Hydrated patients for a stick are the easiest. Plus lower your arm over the bedside and pump your arm then have tourniquet applied and see if that helps. I wouldn't stick somebody more than twice before I'd turn it over to another. Some you get some, some you don't. Knowing when to stop is important.   Duh most add I never dug, Namaste sheila

YaYa 5 , agree with Rocky. your daughter has forgotten you . She needs a wake up call. A bit of "Tough Love". She's still trying to win her MIL over, but she needs to remember who you are. I recognize what you are going through . Going through it with my son. Bummer.

After calling the nurse again on Friday and expressing my concern that the weekend was coming and I didn't have my results, she called pathology, had the report faxed over, and the dr. called me.  It was all clear on margins and nodes!  Whew!  What took them so long!  I have a dr. app't on the 29th to check my progress from surgery and I'll get a copy then.  I'm healing quickly so no worries there.

As for reactions from my kids, they are all over the block...the ones I thought would be the most concerned aren't showing it at all, and my youngest (the tough guy) has called me every day to see how I'm doing and what I've found out.  He can't be more supportive.  I happened to mention that in passing and the others got defensive.  What was I supposed to say...nothing I guess. 

Kaara congratulations, such good news for the holidays.

Rocky and Rohanna------grump away you have the right

Sara------thoughtless gift, but I bet she thought she was being kind in someway. "helps with thickening", I bet she thought it would make your hair grow faster. I started using Dove body wash when bald. Liked it very well, but expensive. Now ,I use cheapo VO5 on hair and body. Cheap, from a bottle which is cleaner than bar soap. I think I can buy three bottles for one dove bottle.

Hi all!  I know this really isnt BC related but I am ready to pull my newly grown hair out.  I wish people would quit trying to dress me.  I am 45 damn years old and if I wanna wear all black all the time so flippn what!!!  Do I say ooo your wearing that color OMG let me get some sunglasses on cause its hurtn my eyes. No I dont do that so stop doing that to me!  Oh and if I wanna wear my jeans, tshirts, and my black boots to church get over it.  Im not a girlie girl!!I am who I am and thats that. Ooo and lets not forget the tattoos that I love to get.  I dont wear jewelery but I consider them like my jewelry.  Do I say OMG when you wear that ring that is about as big as a freakn chicken egg, no!!! Oh yes and my personal favorite is just think how much money you have spent on them.  Do I say how much have you spent on all the freakn jewelery your wearing or have stashed in boxes cost, no I dont. I am who I am get over it. Im cool with it.  Im the one who has to look in the mirror everyday and I love who I am!!!!! Thanks for letting me rant!!!! 

Rohanna the sad thing is I love my church family.  Tons of them have been there to support me thru all of this.  Alot of them dont care how I dress or how many tats I have.  The funny thing is the little ole ladies are the ones who give me the least grief of all.  Thats why I love them so.  They are like my granny was.  They love me for me!  Im just not into outward apperances and never have been so it just kinda frosts my cookies when others are like that.  I'm the one who always talks to anyone on the street, it drives the hubby crazy cause sometimes I just chatter away and he is in a hurry,lol!

Happy Holidays Everyone!  May God shine his blessings on you in 2012 and beyond!

Off to DD's for holiday dinner and gift exchange.  Presents for the grands, and white elephant gift exchange (funny gifts) for the adults.  It will be fun as usual, and the place will be chaotic with dogs, cats and kids running all over the place.  I usually fill in as the dishwasher, have my rubber gloves with me so I don't ruin my new manicure...lol!  DD is a great cook...uses every pot in the house, and leaves them sitting...drives me crazy but that's just the way she is.  Gotta love her!   

Hey Everyone, I still do not have a complete diagnosis. I have  only talked to my BS on the day of my biopsy, then on the phone twice and now again right before my lump & SNB. I asked her if it was normal for her to just call me, cause that is what she was saying she would call me next week with results. I got a copy of my path report from the biopsy but can't  really understand too much except the grade 2. Now all the paperwork I have from the procedure on Thursday just says biopsy, is that what a lump is considered? These procedures keep knocking me out for days, just starting to get some energy back. So glad I had prepared for Christmas, and that my daughter and son can be here with me. We are enjoying spending time together, no matter what comes next. Sorry I was out of touch for a while, I couldn't remember the name of the thread. LOL